Literacy in Laos
Laos: Literacy was 75.64 in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
75.64
World rank
65th
of 89 countries
All-time high
84.66
in 2015
All-time low
60.25
in 1995
Years of data
7
1995–2023
Literacy in Laos, 1995–2023
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for literacy in Laos is 75.64, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of down 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, literacy in Laos peaked at 84.66 in 2015 and was at its lowest, 60.25, in 1995.
That places Laos 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
Literacy in Laos, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 60.25 | — |
| 2000 | 69.58 | +15.5% |
| 2001 | 68.73 | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 72.7 | +5.8% |
| 2015 | 84.66 | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 73.72 | -12.9% |
| 2023 | 75.64 | +2.6% |
Laos compared with similar countries
- Laos's 75.64 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 78.16, 97% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
- Laos's 75.64 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 96.06, 79% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 60.25 | 60.25 | 60.25 | 1 |
| 2000s | 70.34 | 68.73 | 72.7 | 3 |
| 2010s | 79.19 | 73.72 | 84.66 | 2 |
| 2020s | 75.64 | 75.64 | 75.64 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Laos
More education data for Laos
- Gender gap education levels, gaps filled 89.6 (2025)
- Primary enrollment selected countries, gaps filled 89.64 (2025)
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 35,584 (2022)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 16,396 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 116,303 (2025)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 115,863 (2025)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 532,092 (2025)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 739,554 (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate -0.0716 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is literacy in Laos?
- Literacy in Laos was 75.64 in 2023, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest literacy recorded in Laos?
- The highest recorded value was 84.66 in 2015.
- What is the lowest literacy recorded in Laos?
- The lowest recorded value was 60.25 in 1995.
- How does Laos rank for literacy?
- Laos ranks 65th out of 89 countries with data for 2023.
- Is literacy rising or falling in Laos?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Laos data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Literacy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).